Ex-owner Of

Tow Company

Gets $2 Million

Jury Award

A former tow company owner who claimed he was falsely arrested by a Sunrise detective in May 1989 won a $2 million jury award in Miami federal court on Thursday.

John Mincieli, 45, of Lauderhill, said he planned to go out to dinner to celebrate on Thursday night.

"I was wrongly treated by the city of Sunrise and I knew I did nothing wrong," Mincieli said. He said that he turned down a $12,500 settlement offer before Christmas.

Mincieli owned American Towing Inc. and Eastern Motors when he was arrested for improperly confiscating a customer's 1986 Subaru. He was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property, among other charges.

But the State Attorney's Office dropped the charges, said Mincieli's lawyer, Arthur Wolff.

Soon after his arrest, Mincieli said he was forced to close the companies because cities he had contracts with - Sunrise, Lauderhill, Tamarac and Lauderdale Lakes - stopped using him.

He sued Sunrise Police Detective Audrey Bruder in federal court for false arrest. The suit asked a jury for $1 million to make up for his failed businesses. The jury awarded another $1 million in damages.

Michael Piper, Bruder's attorney, said he would not comment about an appeal until several outstanding legal issues are answered by U.S. District Judge Shelby Highsmith, who presided over the case.

Piper would not elaborate or let Bruder talk to a reporter. Bruder still works for the Police Department.